Film splicer



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' FILM SPLICER a1 am@ 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 2l, 1945 INVENTOR.

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FILM SPLICER 25 ShGeS-Shee, 2

Filed F619. 21., .1.945

. f. 67 j M INVENTOR. i\\ .Zea jWa/?/ Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE FILM SPLI'CERv Leo Frankel, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to City National Bank and Trust `Company of Chicago, as trustee Application February 21, 1945, Serial No. 579,031

My invention relates in general to nlm splicers. It relates more in particular to an improved splicer for photographic nlm of a type wherein the ends of the film are cut ofi and an overlapping portion, on which cement has been applied, held together until released.

The object of the invention is the provision of an improved `nlm splicer of the type identified wherein various improved features and advantages are utilized as will be explained in the course of the description which follows.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a perspective view of a preferred form of film splicer embodying features of the present invention, the clamping plates of the two film holding assemblies being in unlatched position;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view with the clamping plates in latched relation with their associated base plates but with the movable film holding assembly in latched position, the two Figures 1 and 2 illustrating a sequence of operations in splicing a film;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows with the clamping plate closed; I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows with the clamping plate closed, the line 5--5 of Fig, 3 also indicating the position at which the section is taken;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View, being a portion of the section comprising Fig. 3 but showing the base plates and clamping plates in the positions `which they assume irnmediately before the cutting of the film;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 'I-l of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, the figure showing a part of a scraper mechanism in elevation;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a slightly modified form of the invention, a portion of the view being broken away to conserve space; `and Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken' on .the line IIl-IO of Fig. 9.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, the splicer of my invention comprises` a base member carrying two film holding assemblies, each comprising a base plate and a 4 Claims. (Cl. 15k-42ml) oted on a rod running longitudinally of the splcer and supported in the ends of transverse ribs forming a. part of the base member. One of the base plates is also pivoted to one of such rods so that the movable film holding assembly comprising a clamping plate and pivote-d base plate is pivoted `as a unit and spring means is provided for forcing it toward the fixed film holding assembly. The base plates and clamping plates are overlapping in such a manner that the two lm ends are simultaneously out and heldin overlapping relation. Latch means is provided to positively lock the clamping plates and base plates together when a film is supported therebetween, and separate latching means is `provided to hold the pivoted film holding assembly in film holding and cementing position.A A novel form of scraper is carried by the fixed film holding assembly and is mounted in position to scrape the emulsion from that portion of the lowermost lm end which overlaps the upper film end.

The detailed `features of the invention will be better understood from the description oi the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings. Here the base member Il, `which may comprise a suitable casting or forging, has three transverse ribs I2, I3 and I4 which function as supports for pivot pins or rods IS and I'I, as will be more fully described, and also have other functions which will be alluded to as the description proceeds. The base member II may be supported in a suitable manner, as by means of screws, to a wooden or like base, not

shown.l The center portion of the base member 2 but is shown also in part in Figs. 3, 4, Band '7.

As shown in the latter gure, the lXed base plate i8 rests directly on the raised center portion of the base member II and is held in position by screws 22. These screws extend through washers 23 and relatively wide openings 24 in the base member so that the base plate I3 will be held rigidly in position when the screws 22 are tightened, but its position may be adjusted sufficiently to facilitate alignment of cutting edges and the like. Projections 2E on the upper surface of the base member I8 are adapted to engage in the usualside perforations of the film to hold the same in position.

Associated with the base plate I8 is a clamping plate 21, this clamping plate having a turned end engaging around the rod I6 to form a hinge. A stop strip 29 is secured to the base member II and disposed between ends of the ribs I2 and I3 so that the clamping plate 21 will normally remain in the attitude indicated, when in open position, in Fig. l. The clamping plate 21 has apertures 3l into which the projections 26 may extend so that a film section A (Fig. 2) can be clamped tightly between the base plate I8 and the clamping plate 21. To maintain this posi# tion, as indicated in Fig. 2, I utilize a latch 32 extendable through an opening 33 in the clamping plate 21 and having a latch projection engaging over the top surface of the clamping plate 21 as illustrated in Fig. 2. The latch 32 is pivoted on a pin 34 carried by a downwardly extending portion 36 of the base plate I8. A compression spring 31 is supported between a pair of fingers 38 and 39 formed integral with the latch 32 and portion '36, respectively. As shown, particularly, in Fig. 7, the spring imparts a latching action to the latch member 32 to thereby hold it in engagement with the clamping plate 21. The base plate I9 is pivoted to the rod I1, the pivot formed by a shaped portion 42 disposed between hinge pieces 43 and 44 forming a part of a clamping plate 46. A coil spring 41 is compressed between the hinge member 44 and the rim I4 supporting one end of rod I1 so that by its compression the spring 41 tends to force the pivoted lilm holding assembly (comprising the base plate I9 and clamping plate 46) toward a stop member 48 surrounding rod I1 and held in set position thereon by set screw 49.

The film end B is positioned by projections I onY the upper face of the clamping plate I9 and holes 52 in the clamping plate receive the projections so that the lrn end B can be clamped securelybetween such base plate and clamping plate. To maintain the parts in film clamping relation independently ofthe position of the film holding assembly (note Fig. 2, for example), I pivot a latch 53 on a bracket `54 carried on the bottom of the base plate, a pivot pin 56 extending through these two members. The latch 53 projects upwardly through a slot 51 in thebase plate Ill and is adapted also to project through a slot 58 in the clamping plate 46 to engage the top surface thereof and hold the clamping plate to the base plate in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The latch is urged toward locking position by a leaf spring 59which engages under a tail piece 6I of the latch, such tail piece 6I being also ing straight edges.

Independent latch means are provided for holding the pivoted lm holding assembly in a horizontal position after the film ends have been cut. This comprises a latch 69 pivotally carried by a bracket 1I (see Fig. 5) having a pivot pin adapted to engage against an ear 62 on the l bracket 54 which functions as a stop to limit the r pivotal movement of the latch.

Base plate I8 and clamping plate 21 comprise a fixed film holding assembly held in film clamping position by the latch 32. The base plate I9 and clamping plate 46 comprise a pivotally movable lm holding assembly held in film clamping position by the latch 53 and adapted to swing as a unit aboutl the pivot rod I1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. A stop strip 63 is fastened to the base member between the ribs I3 and I4 holds the pivoted iilm holding assembly in an upright position as shown .in Fig. 2 wh-en required in connection with the functioning of the device.

The base plates and clamping plates of the two lm holding assemblies are provided with straight edges 68, 66, 61 and 68, pairs of which cooperate to cut two film ends at the same time. The four plates comprising the two film holding assemblies are mutually overlapping asshown, the pivoted 12. .This bracket is secured to the underside of the base member II by screws 13. A spring 14 is compressed between tail pico-es 16 and 11 carried on the bracket and latch, respectively, and tends to rotate the latch `in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 5. The latch projects through an edge opening 18 in the pivoted base plate I9 and through a slot 19 in the clamping plate I6 and projects beyond the periphery of such slot 19 to engage the upper surface of the clamping plate. Since the clamping plate 46 is locked to the base plate I9 by the latch 53, the latch 69 acts as a locking mechanism for the entire pivoted film holding assembly as a unit. i

A novel scraper is carried above the clamping plate 21 on a transverse rod 8| supported above the surface of the base plate by a pair of ears 82 and 83 struck up from the material of the clamping plate. The scraper comprises a sharpened wedge 84 secured to a U piece 86, the ends of which are apertured to receive the rod B I. The U piece 86 has a projection 81 adapted to engage under a stop 88 formed from the mat-erial of the clamping plate 21. A coil spring 89 has one end secured to the U piece 86 and the other end t0 the ear 82. The spring 89 is normally under tension and has a tendency to pull the scraper toward the front of the splicer and toward the stop 88. It also has the tendency to rotate the scraper into contact withv the film so that when the projection 81 is released fr om the stop 88 the scrap-er will move into contact with the film. It will be noted that the wedge 84 has only a single scraping edge, in the drawing shown as running parallel `to the longitudinal axis of the film. This is the simplest 4and. least expensive manner of producing the cutting edge but considerable deviation is permitted without affecting the scraping action. The Vsurfaces terminating in the sharp scraping edge, I have found, must denean angle of between about '15 and about 90 degrees (and preferably between and 85 degrees) to pro.- duce a satisfactory scraping action and at the same time-avoid tearing of the lm. The scraper wedge is preferably formed of hardened tool steel ground to the shape shown. This simple form of scraper I have found to be most eective in its scraping action and to have much less tendency to tear a film than Scrapers heretofore employed.

It Will be noted that while the base member I I is relatively light in construction, the arrangement is such -as to produce a very sturdy support for the base plates and clamping plates. Heretofore in a quality long lasting film splicer, it has been considered necessary to employ a relatively` heavy construction. This notonly has increased the cost but has resulted in the production ofA a relatively cumbersome article. i f l l When using the splicer of my invention, the

film section B oi a broken iilm is rst placed 'in position on the base plate i9 fwhile the twcclamping? plates are in raised position las `shown` inlFllg. 1.

then released, the emulsion scraped `from-the iilm at the place where the splice is to occur, the scraper returned, a requisite amount of cement applied to the scraped portion of the film, and the pivoted iilm holding assembly moved to a horizontal position until the latch 69 engages the base plate I9. This latter operation simultaneously cuts the iilm ends and brings the ends in overlapping splicing relation. The latch locks the parts in position where they are allowed to remain a sufficient time to permit the fllm cement to dry. Fig. 6 illustrates the position of the parts just before the cutting takes place and from this gure it will be clear what parts of the film ends are cut and what are held together when the splice is made.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I show a modiiied form of the invention in which a single rod 9| acts as a pivot for the clamping plate of the xed lm holding assembly and the clamping plate and base plate of the pivoted lm holding assembly. It will be noted that the construction is substantially identical with the previously described embodiment except that all of the parts are pivoted on one side instead of on opposite sides. To show the correspondence I have merely applied to Figs. 9 and l0 the same reference characters used in the first described embodiment with, however, the prefix l to indicate the modification.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A iilm splicer comprising a base member having a plurality of transverse ribs, a base plate secured to said base member, a rod secured between two of said ribs, said rod extending longitudinally oi the base member along one edge thereof, a clamping plate hinged to said rod for cooperating with said secured base plate to form a fixed film holding assembly, a second rod secured between two of said ribs and extending along an edge oi the base member opposite to that of said iirst rod, the axis of said rods being parallel, a base plate pivoted to said second rod, and a clamping plate also pivoted to said second rod, the said pivoted base plate and last mentioned pivoted clamping plate comprising a pivoted lin,

holding assembly, the base plates and clamping plates of said two lm holding assemblies having contiguous straight cutting edges and being in such mutually overlapping relation that two film ends may be cut at the same time and held with the cut ends overlapping.

2. A film splicer comprising a base member having a plurality of transverse ribs, a base plate secured to said base member, a rod secured between two of said ribs, said rod extending longi tudinally of the base member along one edge thereof, a clamping plate hinged to said rod for cooperating with said secured base plate to form a iixed lm holding assembly, a second rod secured between two of said ribs, and extending along an edge of the base member opposite to that of said first rod, the axis of said rods being parallel, a base plate pivoted to said second rod, a clamping plate also pivoted to said second rod, the said pivoted base plate and last mentioned pivoted clamping plate-comprising a pivoted film holding assembly, the base plates and clamping plates of saidtwo film holding assemblies Vhaving contiguous straight -cutting edges and being in such mutually overlapping relation that two film ends may be cut at the same time and held with the out ends overlapping and a spring pressed latch carried by 'each base plateto positively lockthe associated clamping plate thereto. Aj 1 3, A -iilm Vsplicer comprising a base member having 'a plurality of transverse ribs, a base 'plate secured to said base member, a rod secured between two of said ribs, said rod extending longitudinally of the base member along one edge thereof, a clamping plate hinged to said rod for cooperating with said secured base Yplate to form a fixed iilm holding assembly, a second rod secured between two of said ribs and extending along an edge of the base member opposite to that of said iirst rod, the axis of said rods being parallel, a base plate pivoted to said second rod, a clamping plate also pivoted to said second rod, the said pivoted base plate and last mentioned pivoted clamping plate comprising a pivoted film holding assembly, the base plates and clamping plates of said two film holding assemblies having contiguous straight cutting edges and being in such mutually overlapping relation that two iilm ends may be cut at the same time and held with the cut ends overlapping, a spring pressed latch carried by each base plate to positively lock the associated clamping plate thereto, and a spring pressed latch carried by the base member and engaging a top surface of the pivoted lm holding assembly to hold the said pivoted film holding assembly in closed position in contact with the iixed film holding assembly.

4. A film splicer comprising a base member having a plurality of transverse ribs, a base plate secured to` said base `member between two of said ribs, a rod secured between said two ribs, said rod extending longitudinally of the base member along one edge thereof, a clamping plate hinged to said rod for cooperating with said secured base plate to form a xed iilm holding assembly, a second rod secured between two of said ribs and extending along an edge of the base member opposite to that of said iirst rod, the axis of said rods being parallel, a base plate pivoted to said second rod and lying between two ribs adjacent said iirst mentioned base plate, a clamping plate also pivoted to said second rod, the'L said pivoted base plate and last mentioned pivoted clamping plate comprising a pivoted iilm holding assembly, the

base plates and clamping plates of said two iilm holding assemblies having contiguous straight cutting edges and being in such mutually overlapping relation that two film ends may be cut at the same time and held with the cut ends overlapping, a spring pressed latch carried by each base plate and engaging a top surface of the associated clamping plate to positively lock the said associated clamping plate to its base plate, a spring pressed latch carried by the base member and engaging a top surface of the pivoted film holding assembly to hold the pivoted iilm holding assembly in closed position in contact with the fixed lm holding assembly, coil spring means in said second rod urging said pivoted lm holding assembly on said rod toward the fixed film holding assembly, and an adjustable stop to limit such movement.

LEO FRANKEL.

(References on following page) 1,464,265 Griswold Aug. 7, 1923 8 Name Date Miehling Apr. 15, 1924 Rohrdanz June 5, 1928 Boisey Jan. 16, 1945 Matson Feb. 5, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Apr. 3, 1935 Great Britain July 5, 1938 

